Pitchshifter - Deviant

Label: MCA
Catologue Number: 112254-2
Format: CD
Date: 2000
Style: Nu Metal / Industrial Metal / Alternative Rock
Rating: 5/10
Reviewer: Sidney James

Let’s start with the obvious, Deviant is another Pitchshifer album, and like other Pitchshifter albums the band have changed their sound again. Where as previous albums have seen them go from grindcore to industrial metal to “punk and bass’. Deviant sees them go in another new direction mainstream alternative rock. www.pitchshifter.com was a stunning album; Deviant just leaves me stunned. It’s not that Deviant is a bad album, it’s still offers so much more than the bulk of alternative rock bands, it’s just the feeling that I know Pitchshifter are capable of producing much more interesting and innovative music.

Gone in the main is the electronic undercurrent of www.pitchshifter.com replaced by live drums and a lesser use of samples. The guitars also sound cleaner and lighter, with the normal punishing grind pushed out of the mix. Part of this change is partially due to the change in the membership of the band, with a new guitarist and a drummer bought in for the first time. This formula makes Deviant the most accessible release by Pitchshifter.

Pitchshifter have managed another transformation, which I initially was sceptical about, but recently going back and listening to Deviant again, I was actually pleasantly surprised. There are a few outstanding tracks from the attack on conformist society that is Dead Battery (a phrase used by the late great comedian Bill Hicks) to the sub www.pitchshifter.com track Hidden Agenda with its programmed breakbeats. Also credit most go to the track 'As seen on T.V 'featuring a long time hero of mine, Jello Biafra (ex Dead Kennedys). Where Mr Biafra gives another one of his observational rants, over a punishing track.

The other main factor than makes Deviant, a worthwhile is that Pitchshifter have lost none of their uncompromising political stance, again the various problems and failings of modern society. A necessary voice in an industry where your dance routine and your level of personal banality are the dominating factor. It’s just a shame that Pitchshifter fury against the modern condition is not always matched by fury of the music on Deviant.

The main question that Deviant leaves me is where no go from here. Will they succeed in their attempts to infiltrate and corrupt the mainstream, or end up as a slightly pissed off version of Feeder? Only time and Pitchshifter can give us the answer. (2007 Update: Well the answer was to come up with the even more commercial PSI album which failed to make the band any bigger and just pissed off their older fans even more).